In addition to Manu Bhaker and Gukesh, Indian men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar are the other two names nominated for the award
Pistol shooter Manu Bhaker and world chess champion D Gukesh will be honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, which is the highest sporting honour in the country, on January 17.
At the Paris Olympics this year, Manu Bhaker made history by becoming the only Indian athlete since Independence — man or woman — to win two medals at a single Olympic Games. The 18-year-old Gukesh, meanwhile, became the youngest ever world champion in chess after defeating Ding Liren in Singapore last month. Gukesh also won the Candidates tournament earlier in 2024 to secure his spot in the World Chess Championship and led the Indian chess team to a team gold at the Budapest Olympiad.
In addition to Manu Bhaker and Gukesh, Indian men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, who was a key figure in the Indian team claiming a second bronze medal at a consecutive Olympics, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar are the other two names nominated for the award.
